Metallic structure for railway cars



Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,816

A. E. SMALL METALLIC STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CARS Original Filed Oct. 19. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 k I 1 1 1 l I 1 l l I l W)cnoooaoooocaoooocoooooouoooooc Ewen for Hrzhzzrfl5m 211 Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,816

A. E. SMALL METALLIC STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CARS Original Filed Oct. 19. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jhven for Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- .ARTHUR E. SMALL, or CHICAGO, ILLINQIS, ASSIGNOR 'To UNION METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

' ticular spot, as, for exainple,.when a piece of METALLIC STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

Original \application filed October 19, 1922, Serial No. 595, 634. Divided and this application filed September 8, 1925.

My invention relatesto the construction of railway cars and more particularly to metal endstructures or walls for railway car made of one or more metallic plates or panels formed with integral reinforcing, stiffening and. bracing corrugations or embossments.

However, this device may be incorporated in the construction of car side walls, floors, roofs or doors used in connection with railway cars of various types. g

It is well known'that the end walls of rail way cars, are more likely to be broken or otherwise injured than the side walls. This is due to the inertia thrusts and pressures caused by the shifting of the cargoes when the train starts or stops. These thrusts may be local, tending to distort the end in some parpiping .or lumber shifts lengthwise impartingablow against the end wall of the car; or there may be-a general tendencv to break out the end-wall as a whole or tear it awayfrom' theframing. For the purpose, there'- fore, of greater strength and durability, car,

ends have been constructed of metal plates corrugated or formed with ribs to impart the desired str'ength rigidity and resiliency..

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a corrugated or embossed metallic end structure for railway cars inwhich the corrugations or embossments have a configuration and arrangement that impart to the structure a maximum capacity for restatic or quiescent, and with sufficient-re siliency to prevent permanent distortion dueto the thrusts of the loads, with a minimum weight of metal. It is important that structures of this sort should be as light as is possible, consistent with strength anddurability, both for reasons of economy in manufacturing cost and also to keep the weight of the car ata minimum.

A further ob ect is to provide a corrugated metallic wall element that is practically possible to manufacture. A further object ls to providea metallic wall element with corrurations or embossments that resist to a greater degree torsional stresses,'as well as brace equipped with my invention.

and. general,

of the plate on line 88 of Fig. 5.

Serial No. 55,207.

side thrusts or weaving.

In the drawings: F 1g. 1 1s 'an'end elevatlon of a box car Fig. 2 1s a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

equipped with my invention.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front View of a corrugated plate.

Fig. 6 is a top view of Fig. 5. F ig. 7 is a section'on line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig 5. Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showing a modified form on line 7 7 of Fig. 5. r V

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showing amodified form on line 88of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged section ofaportion of the late showing a modified form on line 9-9 0 Fig. 5.'

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a gondolacar' Fig. 13 isan enlarged section of a-portio n I of the plate showing a modified form on line- 7-7 of Fig. 5. I

gFig. 14- is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showing a modified form on line 8'-8 of Fig. 5. t

Fig. 15 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showinga modified form on line 99 of Fig. 5. I A

Fig. 16 isan enlarged section of of the plateon line'7-7 of Fig. 5..

"Fig. 17 is an enlarged section of a a portion portion Fig. 18 isfan enlarged section'of a portion I ofthe plate on line 9 -9 of Fig. 5.

- Like characters of reference designate like parts. I I

The end wall'structu're shown in the abet:

figures comprises a panel composed of a corrugated metal plate'or plates.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, he corrugated plates 1, 2 and 3 extend across the car from side to side and are formed with integral flanges 4 along the vertical edges which over-' lap and are secured to the frame members of the side walls 5 ofthe car by any suitable means.

The top edge of the end wall is secured beneath the fascia boards 7 and the meeting edges of the .platesoverlap and are secured together by rows of rivets 8 and the lower edge of the end wall is secured to the end sill 9. Nailing strips 10 are secured to the plates 1, 2 and 3 by bolts andlining 11 is se-. cured to the nailing strips 10.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the invention applied to a gondola type of car, wherein only one plate 12 is used to form the end panel which extends from side to side of the car and is provided along the vertical edges with flanges 13 which overlap and are secured to the frame members of the side walls 14 by any suitable means. The top edge of the plate is secured to the top chord 15 by rivets 16, while the lower edge is secured by rivets 17 to the end sill 18.

While the corrugations are Shown pressed outwardly, and in horizontal arrangement, it is understood that the corrugations may be pressed inwardly, or partially inwardly and partially outwardly from the original plane of the plate or the corrugations may be placed in any position, for instance, vertically or diagonally. I The plates or panels may be positioned vertically or horizontally and applied to any type of railway car. a

Fig. 5 to 9 inclusive show the preferred form wherein the plate is provided with a plurality of major corrugations 31 with preferably 'flat apices 36 which are spaced apart distances substantially equal to their respective widths and the parts 33 of the plate between the major corrugations are also preferably fiat so that the configuration is symmetrical in cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of these major corrugations, which line is the neutral axis of the section. Such a section is very stron on account of the amount of metal positione awa from the neutral axis and is also relative y rigid. These major corrugations 31 are preferably widest adjacent their middle portion and decrease in width toward their opposite ends, and the apices change from a flat to an arcuate configuration. .The metallic plate is also provided with a plurality of a aligned minor corrugations 32 which lie between adjacent major corrugations 31 with their inner ends preferabl terminating into the plate adjacent each ot 181' and with their outer ends terminating into the plate in line with the outer ends of the major corrugations.

The outer ends of the minor corrugations 32 have arcuate apices and the parts of the plate between these outer ends of the minor corrugations and the outer ends of the major corrugations are also arcuate so that they form a cross section of sinuous configuration, and, furthermore, the outer ends of the minor and major corrugations are of the same width and spaced apart distances substantiallyequal'to their respective widths so that they,-

form a contiguous sinuous configuration symmetrical in cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations, which line is the neutral axis of the sect-ion. Such a section is very resilient and has a spring like action under load, and, furthermore, produces a very strong section for the amount of metal used. The minor and major corrugations merge into the plane of the plate by means of terminal portions 16 of any desired formation. By such an arrangement a corrugated metallic plate is provided which is relatively rigid adjacent the middle of tlie'pl'ate and relatively resilient adjacent the opposite end portions of the corrugations.

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are detail enlargements of portions of the plate taken on lines 7, 8 and 9, respectively, of Fig. 5, showing the flat apex 36 of the major corrugations (Fig. 16) and the contiguous sinuous configuration of the major and minor corrugations 3132 (Fig. 18). 4

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are detail enlargements of a modified form of corrugation similar to Figs. 16, 17 and 18,,respect-ively, wherein the apex 4 0 of the major corrugation is arcuate, while Figs. 13, 14 and 15 show both the major and minor corrugations having flat apices.

The major corrugations are preferably of uniform width for a short distance adjacent their middle to provide greater strength for a greater portionof the plate and also to facilitate the changing of the forming dies when it is desired to increase or decrease the length of the corrugations or embossments.

Plates provided with a plurality of contiguous narrow corrugations possess a considerable amount of elasticity and when struck a blow deflect readily and regain their shape without distortion, whereas a plate provided with wide flat corrugations, though better able to carry quiescent loads, has not the resiliency of the former and is more readily distorted when struck a blow.

It is, therefore, desirable to design a plate that possesses great strength to withstand the sudden impact loads or blows with sufficient resiliency to resist distortion.

This application is confined to the construction wherein the minor corrugations are positioned between the major corrugations, while my co-pending application Serial No. 595,632, filed October 19, 1922, for corrugated metallic wall elements covers the construction wherein the middle portion of the major corrugation issplit into two or more minor corrugations.

This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 595,634. filed October 19, 1922.

The. accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope of the claims will occur. to persons skilled in the art.

I claim: I

1. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of parallel major corrugations whose width is greatest at the center decreasing in width towards the terminal thereof adjacent the edges of said plate, a'plur'ality of minor corrugations lying in a plane between said major corrugations, said minor corrugations merging from the plane of said plate adjacent the center thereof and increasing in a width and depth towards the terminals adjacent the edges of said plate.

2. A metal plate provided with a plurality of major and minor corrugations, said major corrugations projecting from the original plane of said plate forming a uniform cross section at the center thereof with fiat apices of greater width-at the center and diminishing in width towards the end of said corrugations where said major and minor corrugations merge and become contiguous and of a sinuous formation.

3. A metallic .plate having a plurality of major and minor corrugations, terminating within the plate, said major corrugations formed with flat apices decreasing in width from the centertoward the ends of said corrugations, said minor corrugations positioned section uniform in depth, width and shape symmetrical'about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations.

5. A sheet metal provided with a plurality of major and minor corrugations, said major corrugations being widest, contiguous and symmetrical and provided with flat apices of eatest width adjacent the center, diminishmg in width toward the end of said corrugation where said major and minor corrugations merge and become contiguous, symmetrical and parallelfor a short distance just before merging into the original plane of the plate.

6. A metallic plate having a plurality of truncated major and minor corrugations terminating Within the plate. said major corrugations decreasing in width from the center toward the-ends, said minor corrugations positioned between said major corrugations merging from substantially the center and the plane of the plate and increasing in depth and width until they merge .with said major corrugations to form a truncated contiguous configuration of uniform cross section.

7. A metallic plate having a plurality of sinuous and contiguous major and minor corrugations terminating within the plate, said major corrugations decreasing in width from the center toward the ends, said minor corrugations positioned between said major corrugations merging from substantially the center and the plane of the plate and increasing in depth and width until they merge with said major corrugations to form a sinuous and contiguous configuration of uniform cross section.

8. A metallic plate having a plurality of major and minor corrugations terminating within the plate, said major corrugations'be- 111g parallel, contiguous, symmetrical and widest adjacent their center and diminishing in width toward their ends, said minor corrugations positioned between said major corrugations merging substantially from the center and the'plane of'the plate, and increasing in depth and width until they merge with said major corrugations to form a contiguous configuration of uniform cross section.

9. A metallic plate having a plurality of major and minor corrugations terminating within the plate, said major corrugations decreasing in .width from the center toward their ends, said minor corrugations positioned between the major corrugations merging from substantially the center and the plane of the plate, and increasing in depth and width until they merge with the major corrugations to form a contiguous configuration of uniform cross section.

10. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations spaced apart intermediate their ends distances equal to their width which decrease in width toward their ends, and a plurality ofminor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width toward the edges of the plate until said major and minor corrugations adjacent their ends are spaced apart distances equal to their width.

11. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations symmetrical in cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations which decrease in width toward their ends, and a plurality of" minor corrugations lying substantially. between said major corru at-ions which increasein width toward the e ges of the plate until theyform a cross section symmetrical about a line midway between the outermostportions of the corrugations.

12. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between wider and deeper major corrugations, the length of the center line of metal of a cross Section of the major corrugations adjacent the middle of'the plate being the same as the length of the metal .ofa crosssection of the major and minor corrugations adjacent the edge of the plate. 1 13. A metall c plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations having substantially fiat apices which decrease in width toward their ends, and a plurality of minor minor corrugations being contiguous adjacent their ends and forming a sinuous configuration.

14. Ametallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations which decrease in'width toward their ends, and a pair of aligned minor corrugations positioned sub stantially between adjacent major corrugations with their inner ends terminating into the plate and with their outcrendsterminating into the plate in line-with the outer ends of the major corrugations, said minor corrugagsions increasing in width toward their outer en a 15. A wall fora railway carcomprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of major corrugationswhich decrease in width toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations terminate into the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members.

16. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations spaced apart intermediate their endsdistances substantially equal to their width which decrease in width toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corru ations which increase in width toward the e ges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations are spaced apart distances equal to their width adjacent said; oppositely disposed frame members, W

17. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said-platepro vided with a plurality of major corrugations symmetrical in cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations which decrease in width toward their ends, said plate also provided with a pluralify of minor .corrugations lying sub-' stantia between said major corrugations which increase 1n width toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations form a cross section symmetrical about a linemidway between the outermost portions of the corrugations, adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members.

positely disposed frame members, the length of the center line of the metal of a cross section of the major corrugations adjacent the middle of the plate being the same as the length of the center line of the metal of a cross section of the major and minor corrugations adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members.

19. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate securedto oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of truncated major corrugations which decrease in width toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying'substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations are contiguous and form 'a sinuous configuration adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members.

20. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations which decrease in Width toward their ends, said platealso provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major Y termediate their ends distances substantially equal to their width which decrease in width toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations are spaced apart distances equal to their width.

22. A metallic plate provided with a plu-. rality of major corrugations symmetrical in cross section about a line midway between 'the outermost portions of the corrugations which decrease in width toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations form a cross section symmetrical about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations.

23. A metallic plate provided with a plu- ;rality of major corrugations which decrease in width toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width toward the edges of the plate, the length of the center line of the metal of a cross; section of the major corrugations adjacent the middle of the plate being the same as the length of the center line of the metalof a cross section of the major and minor corrugations adjacent the edge of the plate.

24. A metallic late provided with a lurality of truncated major corrugations w ich decrease in. width toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width toward'the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations are contiguous and form a sinuous configuration.

25. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major embossments having fiat apices with the parts of the late between the embossments also substantia ly flat, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor embossments lying substantially between the major embossments which'terminate into the plate substantially in alinement with the maor' embossments where the major and 11111101 embossments have arcuate apices'and the parts of the plate between the ends of the major and minor embossments are" also of arcuate configuration.

26. A metallic plate provided-with a plurality of major embossments having flat japices withthe parts of the plate between the embossments also substantially flat, said major embossments-decreasing in width toward their opposite ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor embossments lying substantially between the major embossments which increase in width toward their outer ends and terminate into the plate, substantially in alinement with the major embossments where the major and minor embossments have arcuate apices and the parts of the" plate between the ends of the major and minor embossments are also of arcuate configuration;

27. A structure for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car said late provided with a plurality of ma or 'em ossments having flat apices with the parts of the plate between the embossments also substantially flat, said plate also provided witha plurality of minor embossments lying substantially between the major embossments which terminate into the plateadjacent said oppositely disposed frame members where the major and minor embossments have arcuate apices and the parts of the plate be- .in width toward their op osite of constant depth,

tween the ends'o'f the major and minor embossments are'also of arcuate configuration.

28. A structure for a railway car comprising a metallic platesecuredto oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said late provided with-a plurality of major em ossments having fiat apices with the parts of the plate'between the embossments also substantially flat, said major embossments decreasing ends, said plate also'provided with a p urality of minor embossments lying substantially between the major embossments which increase in width and terminate into the plate adjacent said oppositely. disposed vframe members where he major and minor embossments have arcuate apices'and the parts of the plate between the ends of the major and minor embossments are also of arcuate configuration.

29. A metallic structure 'for a railway car, comprising a metallic plate secured to o positely disposed vertical frame members 0? structure, said plate provided with a plurality horizontal major corrugations with substantially flat apices' with the parts of the plate between the major corrugations also substantiall flat, said plate also provided with a pluraiity of minor corrugations lyingsubstantially between the major corrugations which terminate into the plate adjacent said frame members substantially in alinement with said major corrugations where the major and minor co'rru ations have arcuate apices'and the parts of te plate between the ends of the major and minor corrugations are also of arcuate configuration. 30. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations and a pair of aligned minor corrugations positioned between adjacent major corrugations with their inner ends terminating into the plate and with their outer ends terminating into the plate in line with the outer ends of the major corrugations.

31. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed ,frame members -of the car provided with a into the plate and with their outer ends terminating into the plate in line with the outer ends of the major corrugations.

32 A wall structure for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car provided I with a plurality of varying-width major corrugations and a pair-of alined varying width minor corrugations positioned between adj acent major corrugations, the outer ends of the ma or and minor corrugations terminating within the plate substantially in alinement Y with each other adjacent said frame members, major corrugations, the outer ends of the the maximum strength of the corrugated wall major and minor corrugations terminating 10 being substantially midway, between the within the plate substantially in alinement frame member; with each other, the maximum strength of B 38. A metallic plate provided with a luthe corrugated wall being-adjacent the middle rality of varying width major corrugations of the major corrugations. and a pair of aligned varying width minor corrugations positloned between adjacent ARTHUR E. SMALL. 

